Kheers / Payasam, Sizzling Tastebuds

Celebrating 2nd Blog Anniversary with a Giveaway and Carrot Kheer

Birthdays are grand
reasons to celebrate. And a great moment to sit, pause and thank as each year
passes by and new hopes, new beginnings unfurl each birthday. And so this day,2
years ago Sizzling Tastebuds was born. 400+ posts & 5 Lakh Page views in 2 years – these are not merely numbers, but humbles me to thank you all for the support and envision the road ahead…Happy birthday bloggieJ

Its taken several
avatars in its design / layout, but the core premise remains the same : simple,
healthy, home cooked food that chronicles Healthy food, Traditional recipes, festival
brunches – all of which are high on love and low on fat – a food feast that travels
from my hearth to your eyes… Thank you, dear readers for your support through
your encouraging comments and tags on Magic Mingle and other events. Appreciate
your support.

A big thanks is also
in order for my family. With the recent addition of our second daughter, life
has indeed turned topsy turvy but more beautifulAnd my family’s support during these
trying times has been invaluable ! 

Birthdays are
celebrations, and what better way than to celebrate with sweets. As with the 1st
blogavarsary where Eggless Chocolate Cake was served or the Rasmalai on completion of 200 posts, the warmth of this yummy delicious Carrot
Kheer is sure to win many hearts this 2nd blog anniversary, and it
surely is a winner in my family … Taking full advantage of the Delhi Carrots
(or Gajar as it is known in Hindi)
available right now, this sinfully rich pudding (or Kheer) is a treat – and let’s just forget about counting the
calories today, shall we?

And what’s more as a
token of thanks for being there and supporting me, there’s a giveaway too.
Check out the details at the end of this post. 

Before that a quick sneak peek
on how Carrot Kheer is made at my place (yes there are scores of versions out
there, and this is one of the ways I make it). Yes, it does call for a little
slaving and flexing your muscles what with grating the carrots & simmering
with continuous stirring, but the result is so creamy and worth it 🙂

Kheer as an Indian dessert is usually served at the end of a meal. Also known by the names of Payasam or Payesh, most kheers
are milk based. Today’s Carrot Kheer is a creamy concoction of milk,carrots & almonds and this delectable kheer got over in a jiffy while we enjoyed it as a
post dinner dessert.

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Prep time – 20 mins |
Cook time – 15 mins | Serves – 4

Keeps for upto 4 days
under refrigeration | Serve warm or cold

Ingredients:

  • Carrots – 700 gms ( I used a combo of Gaajar (red
    variety) and orange coloured carrots)
  • Milk – 500 ml (you may use low fat if you want
    a lighter version)
  • Sugar – 3/4 cup (or more depending on how
    sweet you want)
  • Soaked almonds – 2 handfuls
  • Condensed milk – 1/4 cup (optional – I didnt
    use this fully as the carrots itself was sweet)
  • Elaichi / Cardamom – 1 pod
  • Vanilla essence – 1 or 2 drops (optional but
    recommended)
  • Saffron strands / kesar –
    a generous pinch
  • Garnish – blanched and finely chopped
    pistachio and almonds

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Method:

Soak the almonds in warm water for 20
mins. De-skin and retain.

Wash, peel and grate the carrots . Use
a cheese grater to get finer strands (yes, I know its laborious but the result
is great)

Pressure cook grated carrots with 3/4
of the milk in a cooker for 4 whistles. Cool

In a pan, heat the remaining milk on
simmer with the saffron strands and simmer till the milk reduces to half. You
would get a lovely saffrony colour and aroma by now. Powder sugar finely along
with the cardamom and add to the milk.

Finely grind the almonds with a little
milk to a fine paste. Add to the milk.

Pulse the cooked carrots fully or to a
bite (like we did). Add the pulsed / ground carrot to the boiling milk, and
simmer on low flame. Stir continuously and add the condensed milk now when you
see the kheer bubbling at the edges and once it thickens fully
switch off (this is almost the custard consistency that you should see by now)

Switch off, and tip in the vanilla
essence. Mix well. Garnish with chopped nuts

Serve warm or chilled (we loved it chilled!!)

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And now to the next
excitement of the day
– the Giveaway. One Two lucky
winners(from India) would receive the wonderfully researched and presented
cookbook by Vikas Khanna – the new age chef of India. So, what are you waiting
for ? Rush in to claim that cookbook. But before that, a small snapshot of the
rules:

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Each of the following
entries counts as a point
. These would be tallied against a
total of 100 and two highest winners randomly picked for the giveaway. Only
thing is that you need to be a resident of India or be able to provide an Indian
Shipping Address. If the winner(s) doesn’t respond within 3 days, I shall
choose another set of winner(s).

The giveaway ends Feb 28th 2013



So, lets check out the simple rules:

(a)  Follow
me on FB,
Twitter, Pinterest
(10 points for each follow)

(b)  Subscribe to my posts via RSS
Feed (10 points)

(c)  Join
me via Google Friend Connect and Networked Blogs (10 points for each)

(d)  Tell
me your most favourite blog post and why from this blog and leave the blog post
URL as a comment (20 points). Also tell me one dish you would want featured on this blog (30 points).

(e)  Once
you have done one or more of the above, leave a comment in the box below saying
so.

Thanks once again for
your support and encouragement. Look forward to your participation. 

Cheers

Kalyani

SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER

35 Comments

  1. lubnakarim06

    Congrats on hitting milestone….wishing you luck to post many more yum posts…..

  2. Indian Khana

    Congrats …wish you many more milestone ahead ….kheer looks yum

  3. great-secret-of-life

    Congrats on hitting the milestone.. all the best for more to come.. Yummy kheer
    http://great-secret-of-life.blogspot.com

  4. preeti garg

    Congrats….

    • Follow you on Twitter @simplytadka
      pinterest Simplytadka
      Facebook Preeti garg
      Subscribe [email protected]
      networkedblog preeti garg
      GFC preeti garg

      I want to post about some chilled and instant mocktails… which good for upcoming summer.

      I love all recipes from your blog because… realistic picture…totally mouthwatering specially lemon flavor savory vermicelli… Definetly repose this on my blog soon

  5. Congratulatio. wish u more milestone. Delicious gajar kheer is the perfect celebration of blog aniversary.


    Cuisine Delights
    My Monthly Event – Spotlight Valentine's Treat: ""

  6. Kaveri Venkatesh

    Congratulations Kalyani…Very delicious and tempting kheer

  7. Hi Kalyani,

    I follow you FB, Twitter, Pinterest.

    Join you in GFC and Netwaorked Blog.

    My favourite post in this blog is Nawabi Kabab | Dry fruit stuffed Kebab | Zero Oil Snack. This recipe is very healthy and easy to make. Main important thing in this recipe is without oil baked version.

    I want to see Baked Hara Bhara Kabab/Cutlet in your blog.


    Cuisine Delights
    My Monthly Event – Spotlight Valentine's Treat: ""

  8. runnergirlinthekitchen.blogspot.com

    Heartiest Congratulations!! All the best for many more blogging years!

  9. Sharanya palanisshami

    congrats on your blog anniversary dear.
    i am following you on fb , twitter and pinterest.
    I was already subscribed to your blog and following through networked blog and gfc.

    i like most of your posts , out of all like your Iynegar bakery kara bun , which was explained well and i got its recipe from your blog.

    In future i want to see more low calorie recipes especially oats puloav .

  10. Vimitha Durai

    Congrats dear. Wishing u many more in the cming years

  11. Sanoli Ghosh

    Congrats dear. Wonderful gajar kheer, luscious. Like your mixed veg pickle, couscous peas tikki and Orange Tea Mint Cooler | Sugarfree Mocktails | Summer Recipes . Like you fb, follow by gfc and networked blogs. I don't have twitter and pinterest. Following you by RSS feed.

  12. Congrats.. Carrot kheer looks delicious 🙂

  13. Santosh Bangar

    congrats hitting molestone.kheer is delicious

  14. Congratulations Kalyani!

  15. Yummy…..gonna try it soon

  16. Congrats Kalyani. Great achievement indeed.

  17. (a)Following u via FB, Twitter, Pinterest
    (b) Subscribed to your posts
    (c) Joined sizzling tastebuds via Google Friend Connect and Networked Blogs

    All of your recipes are really yummy .. I like carrot rasin ginger smoothie this was a very nice combo, mini pizza, peas masiyal, all your low cal recipes.

  18. carrot kheer looks yummy 🙂 and congrats on your achievement 🙂

  19. Sahasra Recipes

    Congrats Kalyani.

    Following you on GFC, FB, Pinterest, Twitter, Networked Blog.

    Favourite recipes are Steamed Spinach Bottlegourd Savoury Dumplings – here we are not loosing any nutrients. It is very healthy.
    Chikoo Dates Smoothie – healthy and yummy combo.

    Visit my space in u r free time.

  20. Congrats Kalyani.

    Delicious Kheer.

    Spill the Spices

  21. Congrats.thats quite a milestone. May more keep coming 🙂

  22. Priya Suresh

    Congrats Kalyani,way to go gal; wishing many more milestones like this,gorgeous and droolworthy kheer.

  23. lubnakarim06

    Loved connecting to you through fb, twitter, pinterest, google connect and rss…

    I love mixed vegetable pickle a lot in u r blog…even bookmarked it…

    Love to see new and innovative recipes from you…

  24. Congrats on the 2nd anniversary 🙂 Wish your blog many more successful anniversaries 🙂

  25. congratulations…delicious kheer…..

    http://foody-buddy.blogspot.com/

  26. Priya Sreeram

    Hearty Congrats Kalyani; It's wonderful to know that you have completed 2 years of delighting us. Wishing you many more such milestones. It is a lovely giveaway; do count me in 🙂

  27. Priya Sreeram

    I already follow you on FB, twitter and Pinterest

  28. Priya Sreeram

    I am connected to you via GFC too 🙂 and follow you by networked blogs

  29. Priya Sreeram

    I like your endeavors in healthy eating and especially love the sugar free recipes you have in your blog ; the sugar free date and almond muffins is my favourite
    https://www.sizzlingtastebuds.com/2011/09/sugarfree-dates-n-almond-muffins-and.html

  30. Congratz on your bloganniversary!!! dear

    Already followed you on GFC(Archana Vijay) and liked FB page too.

    I did followed twitter and pinterest of yours.Also following your networked blog 🙂

    I visited your blog
    https://www.sizzlingtastebuds.com/2011/04/mixed-vegetable-pickle-north-indian.html

    It is the best ever I loved it.Its going to be best when eaten with curd rice!!! Loved it.Loved North Indian dishes. 🙂

    Upcoming post I would like to see homemade healthy
    Smoothies for Summer time 🙂

    Visit my space once you are free
    http://tangymind.blogspot.com

  31. Already Subscribed to your feeds too.I had followed all the rules as you mentioned dear 🙂

  32. Congrats on the anniversary Kalyani. I am already following you on fb.

  33. Being a hardcore South Indian :), I am slowly venturing into the Northern part of India. The recipe that caught my attention is the carrot and dill paratha. Healthy and tasty. https://www.sizzlingtastebuds.com/2012/12/carrot-dill-paratha.html

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